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A distinguished professor emeritus in the Department of Biosystems Engineering at the University of Manitoba will be invested into the Order of Manitoba this summer.
Dr. Digvir S. Jayas, an engineer and agrologist, has received multiple awards for his 30-year research and teaching career. He conducts research related to drying, handling and storing of grains and oilseeds and digital image processing for grading and processing operations in the Agri-Food industry.
He spent more than a decade in academic leadership roles at the University of Manitoba, including as its vice-president (research and international) for nearly 14 years. He has served as president, chair and board member of many organizations in fields including food science, health policy, bioengineering, marine, arctic research and many more. He has acted as interim president of Natural Sciences and Engineering Council of Canada (NSERC).
Dr. Jayas was appointed to the National Research Council of Canada in March of 2022.
According to his bio with the NRC, he has received multiple awards recognizing his research and professional contributions to agriculture in Canada, India and the United States, including the Sukup Global Food Security Award in 2017 and the Brockhouse Canada Prize (NSERC) in 2008. For his important contributions of knowledge in multiple domains, he received the Sir John William Dawson Medal from the Royal Society of Canada in 2009. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, an inductee to both the Manitoba and the Canadian Agricultural Halls of Fame and an Officer of the Order of Canada.
Dr. Jayas has authored or co-authored over 1000 technical articles in scientific journals, conference proceedings and books. He holds a Ph.D., M.Sc. and B.Tech., and is a registered professional engineer and agrologist.
In July of 2023, he moved into his new role as President and Vice-Chancellor at the University of Lethbridge.